Winter Is the Best Time for Resurfacing Your Skin with Fractional CO2 Laser Therapy

As your body’s largest and most visible organ, your skin is a prominent reflection of your vitality and well-being. But it’s prone to developing surface irregularities that can leave you feeling older than you are or less confident in your appearance.

Groundbreaking advances in cosmetic dermatology have made laser therapy the ideal solution for a wide range of common skin imperfections. Whether you’d like to erase fine lines, soften deep wrinkles, tighten saggy skin, balance your complexion, or reverse the long-standing effects of sun damage, laser resurfacing makes it easy to repair and revitalize your skin from the inside out.

Here at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery (MDCS Dermatology), we’re pleased to offer a complete menu of advanced laser resurfacing treatments for all cosmetic needs and skin types, including fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. Widely considered the gold-standard solution for most major skin problems, fractional CO2 laser resurfacing can correct virtually any visible irregularity to dramatically improve the appearance of your skin.

Although you can schedule a fractional CO2 laser resurfacing treatment any time of the year, it’s best to go through the process in the winter — between the start of December and the end of March. Here’s why.

The collagen remodeling process takes time

There’s nothing quite like fresh, beautiful skin to make you feel your best as warmer weather approaches. Scheduling your laser resurfacing session in the wintertime helps guarantee you’ll be able to greet springtime with a radiant complexion that lasts all through the summer months and well into the fall.

Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing achieves its amazing results by stimulating elastin production and collagen renewal. Elastin is the main protein that helps your skin retain its shape, while collagen is the primary protein that gives your skin its structure.

Using a specialized handheld applicator that delivers rapid-pulse microbeams of energy into the deepest layers of your skin, fractional CO2 laser resurfacing triggers the skin renewal process in two major ways.

First, it heats your dermal tissues from the inside out to trigger immediate and long-term collagen synthesis, which helps tighten your underlying skin layers. Second, it uniformly removes ultra-thin layers of damaged tissue from the surface of your skin in a process that works much like a chemical peel or microdermabrasion.

Although you can expect to see an undeniable difference in your skin soon after treatment, the collagen and elastin remodeling process unfold steadily and gradually over time. As your body continues to ramp up its collagen and elastin production, you’ll notice increasingly smoother, firmer, and more vibrant-looking skin for months to come.

Your sun exposure is limited in the winter

During the wintertime, you’re far less likely to unintentionally spend too much time in the sun. Why does this matter? Because laser skin resurfacing can’t be performed on skin that’s tanned, or darker than normal.

Performing laser skin resurfacing on skin that’s darker than its natural shade increases the risk of inaccurate laser settings, which can inadvertently — and irreparably — damage your skin.

It’s also important to avoid significant or prolonged sun exposure following fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, as the laser leaves the treatment area far more sensitive and susceptible to skin-damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays.

To minimize or eliminate your risk of UV-related skin damage both before and after laser resurfacing, it’s vital to limit your sun exposure in the weeks leading up to your treatment and practice consistent sun protection measures in the weeks following treatment. These tasks are typically much easier to accomplish in the winter months.

Winter is more conducive to recovery

While there are gentler laser resurfacing treatments that don’t require any amount of downtime, fractional CO2 laser resurfacing goes deeper to deliver outstanding, long-lasting results that solidify its reputation as the gold standard in laser resurfacing.

While less far-reaching laser skin rejuvenation treatments typically require multiple sessions to provide optimal results, fractional CO2 laser resurfacing gets the job done in just one session.  

The treated area will be slightly swollen for a few days as your skin heals, gradually shifting from red to pink before returning to its natural hue. During this recovery process lasting 3-7 days, you can also expect a certain degree of peeling as your skin naturally exfoliates.

Winter is an ideal time for fractional CO2 laser resurfacing because, for many people, it’s easier to stay inside and simply relax for a few days. If you do need to head to the grocery store or run any other quick errand, it’s also easier to protect your skin from the elements with the right clothes.  

If you’d like to find out how fractional CO2 laser resurfacing can help you refresh the skin you’re in this winter, we’re ready to help. Call your nearest MDCS office in Manhattan, Hampton Bays, Commack, Plainview, or Smithtown, New York, or use our easy online tool to schedule a consultation with one of our laser experts.